This program provides information to assist the Fire Service charged with responsibilities for fire and life safety on a construction site to follow best practices. Builders and building officials will also benefit from the information provided. The purpose is to reduce the risk of injuries and losses from fire. The information applies to the design and planning stages as well as the actual construction phase of buildings. Many hazards can be addressed before they become an issue by adoption of best practices and rigorous code enforcement. The primary focus of this program is on large buildings during construction. Other topics that include demolition, alterations, renovations, repair and maintenance, as well as newly completed buildings will be discussed. This program provides guidance that is based on compliance with Chapter 33 of the 2021 International Fire Code, Chapter 33 of the 2021 International Building Code, and NFPA Standards 1 and 241.
By the end of the course, you should be able to do the following:
- Analyze the risks and hazards of construction sites including the leading causes of fires in structures under construction.
- Explore the applicable model codes and standards that pertain to safety precautions during construction including code changes in 2021 IFC and 2019 NFPA 241.
- Examine best practices for preventing hazardous activities on a construction site.
- Identify the components of a good fire safety plan and be able to work with builders to develop a plan.